Hotels in Hessen

Hessen, or Hesse in English, is a state in Germany that is as magical as the name depicts. It is the inspiration for some of Grimm Brothers’ tales that are based on real-life stories that happened in the area. For tourists looking for a little bit of old and a little bit of new Germany, Hessen is the exact place to be.

Hessen combines the charming albeit old picturesque cobblestone streets with rustic signages with the financial district towering with modern architecture. The city also offers a little bit of everything for young travellers who want to find themselves, for families who want to make memories, and even for business travellers who want to enjoy the little breaks they have in between meetings.

How to Get There

A huge state like Hessen has several airports in which one can enter the state. It has three main provinces, further divided into 21 districts with five independent cities. One of the most popular airports is Frankfurt Airport. From any airport, travellers will be able to transfer into different cities by either using the tramway, the train line, or the bus and/or coach.

Getting Around

On-ground, cars are always a popular choice for convenience and comfort. For people who don’t want to drive, buses and coaches are available to go into different cities. However, these types of accommodation would usually require transfers on longer trips. Meanwhile, tramways and train lines sometimes only go into some cities and might not be connected to farther areas in Hessen.

Top Things to Do

From historic landmarks to grand castles to breathtaking sceneries, Hessen offers a lot of interesting and beautiful places to visit. You’ll never run out of things to do, for sure.

Stopping at Wiesbaden, the state’s capital, is a great idea for a cultural trip. For scenic views, visit the Neroberg hill and board the railway up to the hilltop for the best photos to grace your social media feed.

To see the magical views of Hessen, visit Felseenmer - a scenic forest that looks like it’s cut out from a fairytale book. Not only does it look breathtaking, but it also has a mystical history. It is believed that two fighting giants used to live in the area. Legend has it that they got so fed up with each other that they started throwing boulders at each other effectively burying one under a sea of rocks.

Meanwhile, experience how royalties used to live by visiting the many castles housed in Hessen. One of which is Castle Frankenstein just in the city of Darmstadt. As the name suggests, many believe it is the inspiration of the novel of the same name, Frankenstein.

Tourists also flock to Romer, Frankfurt’s most important landmark. It is the city hall of Frankfurt and has been standing for over 600 years. Currently, it is a multipurpose hall for the residents of Frankfurt and a great background for your photos.

For the ultimate shopping experience, Darmstadt Luisencenter and Wilhelminenstraße are 16,000 square feet of vast shopping and food experiences waiting for visitors. They are directly adjacent to each other and both a great way to walk around and burn calories while buying all the souvenirs you need on your way back home.

What to Eat

Fancier nights call for fine dining. Serving international and contemporary dishes, a table at Restaurant Sorriso can be pricier than your normal restaurants. Hailed as one of the best restaurants in Frankfurt, they serve meal courses or you may order a la carte. It’s best to reserve a table in advance so you can have a great seat paired with scrumptious food.

On the other hand, Brauhaus Zum Rammelsberg is an underrated restaurant in Kassel. It has a simple local charm from the outside but the food is deemed to be one of the best in the area. Excellent service paired with top-notch food is at your fingertips with a simple reservation so you’re sure to have a table when you get there. This restaurant is also vegan-friendly.

Another favorite in Kassel is Restaurant Voit. It is a contemporary take on European cuisines paired with the best local and imported wines. Hailed as the best restaurant in Kassel in 2016, it continues to welcome flocks of tourists who want to experience the food at a Michelin-Star restaurant like Voit. Online reservations are a must to ensure the best possible experience here.

If you’re looking for a more laid back breakfast nook, take a trip to Schwartzer & Soehne in Giessen. Brunch is always fun with a cafe that serves freshly cooked food with ingredients taken from the local market itself. Their choices for coffee also varies from imported ones to locally-sourced beans from Frankfurt. With its low price point and tasty dishes, it is a popular stop for tourists and locals alike.

Nightlife

For more adventurous tourists looking for experiencing the local night scene, Pubcrawl Frankfurt should be part of your itinerary. Instead of worrying about scheduling and finding the best pubs in the area, just join the group that convenes every Friday and Saturday to visit the best and most legendary locations in the area. Meet new people and get into the coolest pubs in Frankfurt with just 15 euros. With the free shot in every location, this is the best bang for your buck in all of the pub crawls in Frankfurt.

Where to Stay

Depending on where you are, Hessen offers a wide variety of accommodation for every type of traveller. Bigger names in hotels are present in most if not all areas of Hessen including Best Western, Hilton, and Intercontinental.

For those looking for a place to stay that’s within a budget, there are apartments and b&b listings online that are available. This is good for either individuals or bigger groups trying to share the spend and save up a little bit. Depending on which place in Hessen you plan to stay, accommodation prices would vary.

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